SEC to supply green energy in Victoria: The State Electricity Commission (SEC) in Victoria has signed several renewable energy contracts that will see it power close to 5% of the Australian state’s electricity market from July 1, 2025. This electricity will power schools, metropolitan and regional hospitals, along with iconic places like Flinders Street Station, the Melbourne Museum, the National Gallery of Victoria, Phillip Island’s Penguin Parade, Werribee Open Range Zoo, the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Melbourne Park precinct. SEC says it will also supply much of Victoria’s train and tram network, powering over 350 million train and tram trips each year. SEC says it will help address the gap between The SEC says it will help smaller businesses access renewable energy deals that are currently mostly available to larger companies.
Power will be supplied from SEC’s own projects and those under the Victoria Renewable Energy Target (VRET) scheme, comprising Winton Solar Farm, Glenrowan Solar Farm, Cohuna Solar Farm and Bulgana Green Power Hub, among others. These contracts will reduce the state government’s exposure to price volatility in the electricity market.
OX2 project approved: The New South Wales (NSW) Independent Planning Commission (IPC) in Australia has approved Swedish renewable energy developer OX2’s Muswellbrook Solar Farm, subject to certain conditions. Located adjacent to and within the site of the former Muswellbrook Coal Mine, the project is proposed to bring online a 135 MW solar farm with a 135 MW/270 MWh battery storage and associated infrastructure on site. While the commission found that the project was in the public interest, it attracted over 50 public objections during its assessment related regarding land use compatibility, visual and socio-economic impacts, biodiversity, tariff, etc.
To address these concerns, the commission now requires the developer to mitigate a number of these issues. It will require OX2 to now prepare a detailed management plans for traffic, biodiversity, waste management, among others. OX2 has partnered with Idemitsu for this project that’s targeted to become operational by 2027.
Solar power for condom maker: Actis-backed Southeast Asian renewable energy platform Levanta Renewables has signed a 2.2 MW rooftop solar PV power purchase agreement (PPA) in Thailand. It will will install this capacity for condom maker Karex to power its Innolatex Thailand Limited manufacturing plant in Hat Yai. It will be the 1st solar PPA for Karex which will enable it to reduce reliance on conventional grid power and contribute to environmentally sustainable manufacturing practices. The 2.2 MW project on the manufacturing plant’s rooftop will generate around 44 GWh annually for Karex during the 15-year PPA duration.
Solar PPA for 500 MW in Bhutan: A private power generation company from India, Reliance Power Limited has signed a commercial term-sheet for long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) for 500 MW solar power plant in Bhutan. It entered the agreement with Green Digital Private Limited (GDL) owned by Druk Holding and Investments Limited (DHI). The project will require a capital outlay of up to INR 20 billion ($234 million) to be built on a build-own-operate (BOO) model. Touted to be the largest solar power project in the country, it will also represent the largest private sector foreign direct investment (FDOI) in Bhutan’s solar energy sector to date, according to Reliance. The Indian company has started the EPC tendering process for the project (see Bhutan Ties Up With India’s Reliance For 500 MW Solar Power Plant).
